[MUSIC]

NARRATOR: Royal Tenenbaum bought the house on Archer Ave. in the winter of his 35th year.

[MUSIC]

NARRATOR: Over the next decade, he and his wife had three children. And then they separated.

[KNOCKING ON THE DOOR]

MARGOT TENENBAUM: Are you getting divorced?

ROYAL TENENBAUM: At the moment, no. But it doesn't look good.

RICHIE TENENBAUM: Do you still love us?

ROYAL TENENBAUM: Of course I do.

CHAS TENENBAUM: Do you still love mom?

ROYAL TENENBAUM: Yes. Very much. But your mother's asked me to leave, and I must respect her position on the matter.

MARGOT TENENBAUM: Was it our fault?

ROYAL TENENBAUM: No. Obviously we made certain sacrifices as a result of having children, but no. Lord no.

RICHIE TENENBAUM: Than why'd she ask you to leave?

ROYAL TENENBAUM: I don't really know anymore. Maybe I wasn't as true to her as I could have been.

CHAS TENENBAUM: Well she said--

ROYAL TENENBAUM: Let's just drop it, shall we, uh, Chassie?

NARRATOR: They were never legally divorced. Etheline Tenenbaum kept the house and raised the children, and their education was her highest priority.

ETHELINE TENENBAUM: Yes I'll hold, please. Thank you.

CHAS TENENBAUM: I need $187.

ETHELINE TENENBAUM: Write yourself a check.

[MUSIC]